Steering lock in motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

A steering lock for a motor vehicle which includes a makecontact to actuate a warning installation when the ignition key is left inserted in the lock and a vehicle door is opened; the locking cylinder of the steering lock includes a mounting support made from insulating material which contains two opposite pins or spring-ring parts projecting into the path of the key but without contacting one another; the inner ends of the pins or spring-ring parts may be constructed ball-shaped, conical, or the like, and are in contact with their outer ends at a slip-ring that is connected with the warning installation.

United States Patent 1191 Schiesterl et al.

[ Jan. 1, 1974 STEERING LOCK IN MOTOR VEHICLES [73] Assignee:-Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft,

Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, Germany 22 Filed: June 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:260,216

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 11,167, Feb. 13,1970.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,304 1/1938 Wagner200/44 Primary Examiner-Hcrman J. Hohauser Attorney-Craig and Antonelli[57] ABSTRACT A steering lock for a motor vehicle which includes amake-contact to actuate a warning installation when the ignition key isleft inserted in the lock and a vehicle door is opened; the lockingcylinder of the steering lock includes a mounting support made frominsulating material which contains two opposite pins or spring-ringparts projecting into the path of the key but without contacting oneanother; the inner ends of the pins or spring-ring parts may beconstructed ballshaped, conical, or the like, and are in contact withtheir outer ends at a slip-ring that is connected with the warninginstallation.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FUSE ALARM PATENTEDJAH 1 m4 3.783.207 sum 2OF 2 FIG. 4'

V [A v FIG. 3

" [5 iii f 1 STEERING LOCK IN MOTOR VEHICLES This is a division, ofapplication Ser. No. 1 1,167 filed Feb. 13, 1970 now US. Pat. No.3,703,704 issued Nov. 21, i972.

The present invention relates to a steering lock for motor vehicles witha contact-making means for the actuation of a warning installation withan inserted ignition key and an opened vehicle door. Such warninginstallationsserveas precaution to prevent-thefts, misuse by children,accidents with turned-on ignition, etc.

It is known for the prevention of thefts to build into motor vehiclesacoustic'or optical warning installations which become operable, forexample, as-hooting signal or by turning the headlights on and off, ifavehicle door is opened. These prior art warning installations entail thedisadvantage that they have to be switched into operating readiness bythe driver upon. leaving the vehicle, i.e., are not always ready for usebecause the driver, when leavingthe vehicle for a short period of time,will hardly always turn on the safety device. On the other hand, theknown warning installation will always go into action when the driverhimself enters the vehicle and prior thereto has forgotten to turn offthe warning installation. Further disadvantages of these prior artinstallations reside in the fact that the warning installations requirea large technical expenditureand operate independently of whether or notthe ignition key is inserted into the steering lock.

The present invention is predicated on the aim to warn the driver uponleaving every time by a continuous or timely interrupted warning signalwhen he has left the ignition key in the steering lock and consequentlyhas not secured the vehicle against unauthorized use.

The underlying problems are solved by the present invention in that thelock cylinder of the steering lock is provided with a mounting supportmade from insulating, synthetic resinous material of any known typewhich contains two oppositely disposed pins or springring partsprojecting into the key passage but not contacting with one another,which are constructed at the inner ends thereof ball-shaped, conical orthe like and which with the outer ends thereof are operatively connectedelastically with a slip ring that is connected by way of a contact cableor any other conductor with the warning installation. The ball-like orconical configuration of the ends of the pins or spring-ring partsprojecting into the key path serves the purpose to enable convenientlythe insertion of the ignition key into the key channel whereby the pinsor spring-ring parts are pressed outwardly so that a good contactbetween the two pins or the two spring-ring parts and the groundresults. The current circuit to the slip ring and therewith to thewarning installation is then closed with an opened door.

The slip ring is appropriately embedded in an insulating ring within theouter cover cap.

The synthetic resinous mounting support may be so constructed that itmay be assembled or emplaced on the lock cylinder, for example, by meansof two recesses in the lock cylinder and corresponding pins.

In order to prevent that the pins or spring-ring parts are pressed toofar into the key path and thereby impair the insertion of the ignitionkey, the pins or spring-ring parts may be provided with abutments whichlimit the into the key path and is so constructed at the ends thereofthat it establishes a contact with the slip ring. The flat springthereby appropriately encloses ringshaped the synthetic resinousmounting support. The two ends of the flat spring are, advantageouslyseparated by an entrainment abutment of the plastic mounting supportwhich takes along the flat spring during rotation of the key. It isachieved thereby that the flat spring cannot displace itself in relationto the pins whereby otherwise the contact, for example, at the ends ofthe spring between the pins and the spring might be lost.

The pins may also be constructed as telescopic pins whose parts mutuallyguided one within the other are forced apart by springs disposed on theinside thereof and whose inner pin parts are pressed against the slipring. The-outer pin parts may be provided at the outer end with aflanged or beaded edge.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, spring-ringparts may be provided in the place of the pins which project into thekey path and form part of a ring, at the circumference of which areprovided wiper or slide springs which establish a contact with the slipring.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asteering lock for motor vehicles which avoids by simple means theaforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in a steering-lock formotor vehicles which is ready for operation at all times withoutrequiring any action on the part of the driver when leaving the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention resides in a steering lock formotor vehicles which is simple in construction, easy to assemble andinvolves only parts that can be readily manufactured.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in a steeringlock which operates in dependence on whether or not the ignition key isinserted into the steering lock.

Still another object of the present invention resides in a steeringlock, which permits a compact construction, allowing also installationthereof into existing steering locks.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more obvious from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, forpurposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a first embodimentof a steering lock in accordance with the present invention with twosimple pins;

FlG. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view through the steering lockaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, of amodified embodiment of a steering lock in accordance with the presentinvention with two telep c Pins;

FlG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, similar to FIGS. 1 and 3,through a still further modified embodiment of a steering lock inaccordance with the 3 present invention with spring-ring parts of aspring-ring projecting into the key path; and

FIG. is a plan view of the spring-ring according to FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are usedthroughout the various views to designate like parts, reference numeral1 indicates in all figures the ignition key which is inserted into thekey channel of the lock cylinder 2 consisting of the external stator andthe internal rotor. Since the lock cylinder is of conventionalconstruction, a detailed showing and description thereof is dispensedwith herein.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pins 4 guided in thisembodiment in a mounting support 3 of synthetic resinous material areforced outwardly against the spring force of the flat spring 5 so thatthe pins 4 abut against the key 1 with slight pressure and therebyestablish a good contact. In FIG. 1, however, the pins 4 are illustratedin their innermost position, i.e., in the position in which the ignitionkey has been completely removed or pulled out. The pins 4 includeabutments 4' which limit the movement of the pins 4 inwardly toward thekey passage. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the flat spring 5which may be constructed either in one piece or also two-partitecorresponding to the number of the pins, slides with its ends on theslip-ring 6 that is embedded in an insulating ring 7 disposed in theouter cover cap 8 and is connected by way ofa contact cable 9 (FIG. 1),with the warning installation, for example, with a conventional buzzer.The plastic mounting support 3 is assembled in the embodiment of FIGS. 1and 2 on the lock cylinder 2 by means of two recesses 10 in the lockcylinder and corresponding pins 11. An entrainment abutment 12 providedat the plastic mounting support 3 effects that the flat spring 5 istaken along during rotation of the key 1.

The current supply in the illustrated embodiment with an insertedignition key and an open door is as follows:

Terminal at the fuse box door contact input output buzzer input outputslip-ring 6 flat spring 5 pins 4 ignition key 1 and the latter conductsthe current to ground. It is thereby completely immaterial in whichposition the key finds itself within the steering lock.

In FIG. 3 the pins are constructed as telescopic pins which include eachan inner pin part 13 and an outer pin part 13 and an outer pin part 14.These parts 13 and 14 are pressed apart by a spring 15 disposed on theinside. The inner pin part 13 is thereby pressed against the slip-ring6."The outer pin parts 14 are provided at the outer end with a flangedor beaded edge 16 as abutment.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, specially shapedspring-ring parts 17 are provided in the place of pins which belong toand form part of a ring 18, at the circumference of which are providedsliding springs 19 which establish the contact with the slip-ring 6. InFIG. 4 the form of the spring-ring parts 17 is illustrated with aninserted ignition key 1. FIG. 5 clearly illustrates the spring-ringparts 17 and the sliding springs 19 present at the circumference of thering 18 which abut against the slip-ring 6.

The advantage results from the construction according to the presentinvention that the position of the ignition key is completely immaterialfor the contactmaking in order to trigger the warning installationduring the opening of the door. Also, with a partly pulledout ignitionkey, the contact with the ground remains preserved or maintained at thepins or at the spring-ring parts.

Furthermore, the present invention offers the advan tage that thecontact-making for the warning installation can be accommodated in acommon housing together with the steering lock. The novel installationmay be additionally and subsequently built into already-present steeringlocks. The manufacture of the installation is very simple so that theaimed-at safety mechanism can be manufactured very inexpensively.

While we have shown and described only several embodiments in accordancewith the present invention, it is understood that the same is notlimited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modificationsas known to those skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to belimited to the details shown and described herein but intend to coverall such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope ofthe appended claims.

We claim:

1. A steering lock for motor vehicles having contactmaking means for theactuation of a warning installation when a vehicle door is open and anignition key is inthe steering lock, the steering lock comprising a lockcylinder with a mounting means of insulating material containing twosubstantially oppositely disposed contact-making parts extending intothe key path but failing to contact one another, said contact-makingparts being in operative connection at the outer ends thereofelastically with a slip-ring means adapted to be connected with thewarning installation, said ignition key including conducting portions tooperatively connect said contact-making parts and portions of said lockcylinder which are in turn connected to the circuit ground, said slipring means being embedded in an insulating ring of an outer cover cap ofthe lock cylinder, said mounting means being mounted on the lockcylinder by means of several recesses in the lock cylinder andcorresponding pins, characterized in that the contactmaking partsprojecting into the key path form part of a ring provided at thecircumference thereof with sliding spring means which establish acontact with the slip-ring means.

2. A steering lock for motor vehicles having contactmaking means for theactuation of a warning installation when a vehicle door is open and anignition key is in the steering lock, the steering lock comprising alock cylinder with a mounting means of insulating material containingtwo substantially oppositely disposed contact-making parts extendinginto the key path but failing to contact one another, saidcontact-making parts being in operative connection at the outer endsthereof elastically with a slip-ring means adapted to be connected withthe warning installation, said ignition key including conductingportions to operatively connect said contact-making parts and portionsof said lock cylinder which are in turn connected to the circuit ground,characterized in that a flat spring is provided which presses the twoopposite disposed contact-making parts into the key path and is soconstructed at its outer ends that it establishes a contact with theslip-ring means.

3. A steering lock according to claim 2, characterized in that themounting means includes an entrainment abutment which takes along theflat spring during rotation of the key.

4. A steering lock according to claim 3, characterized in that thecontact-making parts are pins.

5. A steering lock according to claim 3, characterized in that thecontact-making parts are provided with abutments which limit themovement thereof inwardly toward the key path.

6. A steering lock for motor vehicles having contactmaking means for theactuation of a warning installation when a vehicle door is open and anignition key is in the steering lock, the steering lock comprising alock cylinder with a mounting means of insulating material containingtwo substantially oppositely disposed contact-making parts extendinginto the key path but failing to contact one another, saidcontact-making parts being in operative connection at the outer endsthereof elastically with a slip-ring means adapted to be connected withthe warning installation, said ignition key including conductingportions to operatively connect said contact-making parts and portionsof said lock cylinder which are in turn connected to the circuit ground,characterized in that the contact-making parts are constructed astelescopic pins having parts guided one within the other which areforced apart by springs disposed on the inside thereof, and in that theinner pin parts are forced by the springs against the slip-ring means.

7. A steering lock according to claim 6, characterized in that the outerpin parts are provided at the outer end with a flanged edge as abutment.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION January 1, 19 74Patent No. 207 Dated In en d- Gerhard Schiesterl and Josef Eibl It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, insert the following! [30] Foreign Application Priority DataFebruary 14, 1969 Germany P 19 07 390. 6

Signed and sealed this 7th day of May 19714..

(SEAL) Attesc: v

EDWARD I LFLETCHEIQJY-i. I MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents Attesting Office r UNITED STATES PATEN owners CERTIFI'CA'IE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 207 Dated January 1, 1974 lnvc fl Gerhard Schiesterl andJosef Eibl It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, insert the followingz [30] Foreign Application PriorityDate.

February 14, 1969 Germany P 19 07 390. 6

Signed and sealed this 7th dayof May 1971 (SEAL) Attest: EDWARD lLFLLBTCiHBIgJh. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of PatentsFORM POJOSO (O-6'9)

1. A steering lock for motor vehicles having contact-making means forthe actuation of a warning installation when a vehicle door is open andan ignition key is in the steering lock, the steering lock comprising alock cylinder with a mounting means of insulating material containingtwo substantially oppositely disposed contact-making parts extendinginto the key path but failing to contact one another, saidcontact-making parts being in operative connection at the outer endsthereof elastically with a slip-ring means adapted to be connected withthe warning installation, said ignition key including conductingportions to operatively connect said contact-making parts and portionsof said lock cylinder which are in turn connected to the circuit ground,said slip ring means being embedded in an insulating ring of an outercover cap of the lock cylinder, said mounting means being mounted on thelock cylinder by means of several recesses in the lock cylinder andcorresponding pins, characterized in that the contact-making partsprojecting into the key path form part of a ring provided at thecircumference thereof with sliding spring means which establish acontact with the slip-ring means.
 2. A steering lock for motor vehicleshaving contact-making means for the actuation of a warning installationwhen a vehicle door is open and an ignition key is in the steering lock,the steering lock comprising a lock cylinder with a mounting means ofinsulating material containing two substantially oppositely disposedcontact-making parts extending into the key path but failing to contactone another, said contact-making parts being in operative connection atthe outer ends thereof elastically with a slip-ring means adapted to beconnected with the warning installation, said ignition key includingconducting portions to operatively connect said contact-making parts andportions of said lock cylinder which are in turn connected to thecircuit ground, characterized in that a flat spring is provided whichpresses the two opposite disposed contact-making parts into the key pathand is so constructed at its outer ends that it establishes a contactwith the slip-ring means.
 3. A steering lock according to claim 2,characterized in that the mounting means includes an entrainmentabutment which takes along the flat spring during rotation of the key.4. A steering lock according to claim 3, characterized in that thecontact-making parts are pins.
 5. A steering lock according to claim 3,characterized in that the contact-making parts are provided withabutments which limit the movement thereof inwardly toward the key path.6. A steering lock for motor vehicles having contact-making means forthe actuation of a warning installation when a vehicle door is open andan ignition key is in the steering lock, the steering lock comprising alock cylinder with a mounting means of insulating material containingtwo substantially oppositely disposed contact-making parts extendinginto the key path but failing to contact one another, saidcontact-making parts being in operative connection at the outer endsthereof elastically with a slip-ring means adapted to be connected withthe warning installation, said ignition key including conductingportions to operatively connect said contact-making parts and portionsof said lock cylinder which are in turn connected to the circuit ground,characterized in that the contact-making parts are constructed astelescopic pins having parts guided one within the other which areforced apart by springs disposed on the inside thereof, and in that theinner pin parts are forced by the springs against the slip-ring means.7. A steering lock according to claim 6, cHaracterized in that the outerpin parts are provided at the outer end with a flanged edge as abutment.